Apparatus for the abstraction of gasoline



Nov. 23 1926.

C. H. BROWN APPARATUS FOR THE ABSTRACTION OF GASOLINE Filed Dec. 5 1925 m5 W RW hm. NM,

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A TTORNE YS Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

absorbed oil from the gas is carried off at the gas is adapted to AUNITED lSTATES PATENT oFFlcE.

CHARLES HENRY BROWN, OF BRECKENRIDGE, TEXAS.

Application led December 5, 1923.- SerialY No. 678,690.

This invention relates to apparatus for recovering the oils from gas wells and other gases (like producer gas) and has for its object the provision of a device in which the latent heat of .absorption of the oils in the `furnish the heat for the evaporation of said oils, the transfer being practically instantaneous and accomplished with the least possible amount of apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the pro- -vision of a selective system of absorption of the various grades of oil carried by gas from an oil well and in which the low Baume' gravity gasoline vapors are absorbed in preference to the lighter ones by .using a small excess of absorber oil above that ordinarily required to absorb the heavy vapors. This leaves the gas in condition for. its treatment by a second' absorber in which a higher Baum gravity gasoline is absorbed and 1s in turn extracted by a vacuum point with an ultimate operation of compression and condensation.

This invention will bel best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing, tormin cation; nevertheless 1t is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall definevnofmaterial departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The figure diagrammatically represents an apparatus for absorbing the higher Bauml gravity and lower specific gravity gasoline from the gas and for utilizing the heat of absorption to cause an evaporation of the gasoline.

Referring more particularly to the drawmes, wlich the oil laden gasfis charged into a partially filled with absorber oil.

tank The ybottom of tank 2 through a pipe 3 provided with a valve 4 to provide back flow of the product., l v exchanger 5 to a still 6 through a reduced pipe 7. The still is provided ywith a plurality of steam coils 8 having an inlet at 9 and an outlet at 10. The absorber oil charged with the low Baum gravity oils flows out through the top 11 of pipe '7 and falls upon a distributor 12.

a part of the speelli-v 1 designates an inlet pipe through This oil is carried through aheatl `it has been The heat exc-hanger 5 is provided with a plurality of pipes which are in communication with a trap 13 at the bottom of the heat exchanger and through which the oil flows and enters a trap 14 before reaching pipe 7.

A pipe 15 connects the bottom of the still 6 with the drum of the heatI exchanger 5 which encloses the pipes within the heat exchanger so that the absorber' voil is carried downwardly around the pipes and carried off through a pipe 16 at a point above the trap 13 in the heat exchanger 5. -A pump 17 forces the absorber oil through a pipe 18 back through a nozzle 19 into the top of the absorber 2;

The low Baume gravity gasoline vapor is v carried out from the top of the still 6 down- .wardly through a pipe 20 to a dephlegmator v or knock-out 21, the pipe connecting with the bottom of the same. The dephlegmator is similar in construction to the heat exchanger 5 and is provided at its top and ibottom with water traps connected together .by a series of pipes passing through the` drum 21 and coolthe vapors flowing through the drum. An inlet pipe 2 2 is connected to the top of the drum 21( while a pipe 23 forms a water outlet from said drum and trap 24. The lean absorber oil is carried from the bottom of .the drum and above the water trap 24 through a pipe 25 back to theI pump 17 which delivers the absorber oil to the absorber 2. Some of the absorber oil found in the drum 21 is carried over into said drum by the va ors.

conduit 26 carries the low grade gasoline vapors to condenser coils-27 whichare sprayed by Water through a nozzle 28. The low gradegasoline is carried off through a pipe 29 to an accumulator tank where it is stored.

It must be remembered that the system thus far is of the regular absorption system exceptv that only the heavier gasoline is recovered and it is to be remembered that this part of the process is necessary even when making gasoline from gas deliveredfrom wellsat pressures of 250 lbs. and more, as found that unless the heavy vapors are removed that the absorber oil becomes so saturated with gasoline'of higher Baume gravity it will not evaporate in a vacuum' system at ordinary temperatures and it'appears point is reached .that the lighter vapors are lOO that when this saturation A the lower end absorbed and saved while the higher Baum gravity vapors escape. Hereto'fore no re'me.- dy forthis trouble has been found in vacuum systems except to heat all the absorber oil each time and run it through heat exchangers and coolers before pumping the lean oil to the condenser. It will be noted that my system does away with this extra cooling apparatus and keeps the absorber oil from becomproducts.

The higherBaum. gravity gasoline vapors and gas are carriedifrom the top of the absorber 2 through a pipe 30 through the tubes 42 of the expander 41 and thence through a plpe 30a to the bottom of the hi her Baume gravity gasoline absorber, 31. ipe 30 -is connected to the drum of lsaid absorber be` low the screens 32 where it is passed upwardly through the higher Baum ravity Igasoline absorber oil andabsorbed tiereby. The heat of Kabsorption is conveyed to the pipes 33 mounted in the connected to a ltrap 34 while the lower ends of said pipes are `connectedto a trap 35 at of the drum. coils 36 are located in the trap 34 to raise the temperature at certain periods of-the year when it is necessary.

The higherBaum gravity gasoline va ors ascendthrough the drum 31 against the l)ean oily being forced into the d rum by a pump 37 through a pipe 38, the gasoline vaporscoming into contact with tubes 33.\ The absorber oil is spread over the transversev area of the drum 3l by a special baille 39 located at theto of the drum of the evaporator and around t e tubes 33. The leancgases which ,have given yup their hivher Baume gravity gasoline vapors are disc ar ed into a waste pipe 40 to the drum of t e expander 41 which is in the-.ormof a heat exchanfrer where the gases going to the second absor er 31 are cooled by the expansion of the'waste gases from said absorber.

The oil passes from the absorber drum 31 into the trap 35 and into ythe evaporator tubes 33 through the connection`44 which is connected with the drum 31 and the trap 35 at the lower end-of the absorber and the flowis controlled in accordance with the quantity of oil pumped into the drum 31 with the oil level, as shown at 45. being maintained b regulating the float 46 in the float chamber 47. The Hoet-chamber 47 is connected by means of a tubular member 46 with the valve casing'carrying the valve 48., A rod connects the float 46 with the said valve and the valve is located in the U-shaped connection 44 for placing the drum 41 in communication with the trap 35. It will be seen that the oil level may be maintained at various eights by regulating the position of the oat 46.

ing Saturated with lower specificy gravity,

drum ofthe ab-` sor-ber. The upper ends of the pipes 33 are;

Steam heatingv The rich yoil when passing from the absorber section 41 to the evaporator .section which includes the pipe 33, changes in pressure since the absorber works from 5 to 25() lbs. per ysquare inch while the evaporator works at about 22 inches of vacuum. The degree of vacuum necessary is dependent upon the agitation of the rich oil,A the rxposed surfaces of the oil, the'temperature at' the' oil and the specific gravity of the gasa line being extracted. For instance, in summer, it is advisable when saving the very higher Baume gravity gasolineto continually spray the outside of the absorber with water through pipe 43 to counteract the high atmospheric temperature and aid the absorber, while in the winter steam is passed ythrough the coils .36 at the top of the evaporator to raise the temperature and aid the oil to complete the evaporation ofthe gasoline since part of the heat of absorption will have been passed out through the shell to the atmosphere.

.A waste pipe 49 connected with the drum '41 carries oli' the waste gases which have escaped from the drum 31 through the pipe 40. vacuum chamber 50 is maintained at the top of the drum 31 and the evaporation oil level is shown at 51 below the vacuum chamber. y

A trap or valve 52 in the 4pipe 53 controls the flow of lean oil from the drum 31 to the pump 37, the oil being returned to the absorption portion of the drum 31 through the pipe 38. The vacuum in the chamber 50 is produced through .a pump comprising a cylinder 54 and piston 55. The pump crcates a'negative pressure in thechamber 51) and withdraws the higher .Baume gravity gasoline from the evaporator portion of the drum 31 through a pipe 56, and discharges the same through a pipe 57 connected with the condensing-coil 58. A cold water spray 59 is adaptedto spray water on the coil 58 for cooling the same.

`A compressor comprising a cylinder 60 and a. iston 61 which is connected tothe sameiplston rod 62 to which the piston 55 is connected, is adapted to clean out all the gasoline vapors vfrom the absorber oil from the knock-out coils 58 by withdrawing said vapors through a. suction pipe 63 and after passing throu h the pump discharging the vapors throug a tube 64 to condenser coils 65 which are sprayed with water from the member 66. The higher Baume gravity gasoline is then carried through a pipe 67 to an accumulator'where it is stored.

An accumulator tank 68 collects the knock-out products from the coils 58 through a pipe 69 which provides a drain for the very lower specific gravity gasoline mixture and absorber oil from said coils. The liquid in tank 68 is carried lback through the knock-out line 70 to the pump which again forces the absorber oil to the steam distilling system. Y A small connection 71 in commumcation with pipe 7 0 connects with pipe which leads the mixture from the tankp comprising in combination, means supplied with a quantity of absorber oil which is in excess of the quantity required to absorb the lower Baume gravity gasoline for causing absorption of the lower Baume gravity gasoline, means for supplyin the first mentioned means with gasoline-la en gas, a still -for, separating said gasoline from the absorber oil, a heat exchanger connected with the tlrst mentionedr `means for Ireceiving the gas carrying only the higher Baume gravity gasoline for cooling said gas, a second absorber tank connected with the heat exchanger, means or introducing absorber oil into the ltopl of ,the tank, and means connecting the veat exchanger with the body of the tank whereby the higher Baum gravity gasoline laden gas is charged into the bottom of said tank whereby the gas flows upward through |the down stream of the absorber oil, a pluralit of tubes located in the tank, chambers at t e to and bottom of the tank and connected byt e tubes but out of cmmunication with the body of the tank, means connecting the space in th`e tank around the tubes with the lower chamber whereby the absorber oil charged withh higher Baum gravity gasoline is' permitted to enter the tubes whereby the heat .caused by the absorber oi'l absorbing the higher Baume gravity gasoline is imparted tothe tubes and i tioned means with 'gasoline-laden gas,

to the absorber oil charged with higher Baum gravity gasoline passing through 'said tubes, and means for maintaining a lower pressure in said tubes and chambers than ingthe tank space around said tubes.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination, means supplied with aquantity of absorber oil which is in excess of the quantity required to absorb` the lower Baum gravity gasoline for causing absorption of the lower Baumv gravity gasoline, means for supplying the irst mena still for separating said gasoline from the absorber oil, a'heat exchanger connected with the first mentioned means for receiving the gas carrying only the higher Baume gravity gasoline for cooling said gas, a second absorber tank connected with the heat exchanger, means for introducing absorber oil into the top of the tank, and means connecting the heat exchanger with the body of the tank whereby the higher Baum gravity gasoline laden gas is charged into the bottom of said tank whereby the gas flows upward through the down stream of the absorber oil, a plurality of tubes located in the tank, chambers at the top and bottom of the tank and connected by-the tubes but out of communication with the body of the tank, means connecting the space in the `tank around the tubes with the lower chamber whereby the absorber oil charged with higher Baume gravity gasoline is permitted to enter the tubes whereby the heat caused by the absorber oil absorbing the higher Baume gravity gasoline is imparted to the tubes and to the absorber oil charged with higher Baume gravity gasolinev passing through said tubes, and a pump connected with the upper chamber of the tank for creating a vacuum in said upperv chamber whereby the higher Baume gravity gasoline is withdrawn` from the tank.

3. An apparatus of the class described, 'comprising in combination, means supplied with a quantity of absorber oil which is in excess of the quantity required to absorb the lower Baume gravity gasoline for causing absortion of the ylower Baume gravity gasoline, means for supplying the I irst mentioned means with gasoline-laden gas, a still for separating the low gravity gasoline from the absorber oil, a heat exchanger connected with the first mentioned means for receiving the gas carrying only the higher Baume gravity gasolinefor cooling said gas, a second absorber tank connected with the heat exchanger, means fory introducing absorber oil into the t-'op of the tank, and means connecting the heat exchanger with the body of the tank whereby the higher Baum grav. ity gasoline laden gas is charged into the bottom of said tank whereby the gas flows upward through the down stream of the absorber oil, a plurality of tubes located in the tank, chambers at .the top and vbottom of the tank and connected by the tubes but out of communication with the body of the tank, means connecting the space in the tank around the'tubes with the lowerchamv through said tubes, a pump connected with the upper chamber of the tankifor creating a vacuum 1n said upper chamber whereby the higher Baume gravity vgasoline is withl drawn from the tank, a cooler connected with the pump to receive the higher` Baum gravity gasoline and a second pump connected with said cooler for y, withdrawing the higher Baume gravity gasoline from the cooler.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination, means supplied with a quantity ofabsorber oil which is in excess of the quantity required to absorb the lower Baume gravity gasoline for'causing absortion of the lower Baume gravity gasoline, means for supplying the iirst mentioned means with gasoline-laden gas, a still for separating the low gravity gasoline from the absorber oil, a heat exchanger connected with the first mentioned means for receiv. ing the gas carrying only the higher Baum gravity gasoline for cooling said gas, a second absorber tank connected with the heat exchanger, means for introducing absorber oil into the top of the tank, and means connecting the heat exchanger with the body of the tank whereby the higher BaumeJ gravity gasoline laden gas is'charged into the bottom of said tank whereby the gas flows upiward through the down stream of the absorber oil, a plurality of tubes located in the tank, chambers at the top and bottom of the tank and connected by the tubes but out ofcommunication with the `body of the tank, means connecting the space in the tank l around the -tubes with the lower chamber whereby the absorber oil charged with highi er Baume gravity gasoline is permitted to enter the tubes whereby the heat caused by line mixture.

5. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising in combination, means supplied with a quantity of absorber oil which is in excess of the quantity required to absorb the lower Baume gravity gasoline for causing absorption of the lower Baume gravity gasoline, means for suppling the hrst ment-ioned means with gasoline-laden gas, a still for separating the low gravity gasoline from the absorber oil, .a heat exchanger connected with the first inentionedmeans for receiving the gas carrying only the higher Baume gravity gasoline for cooling said gas, a second absorber tank connected with the heat exchanger, means for introducing aosorber oil into the top of the tank, and means connecting the 'heat exchanger with the body of the tank whereby the higher Baume gravity gasoline laden gas is charged into the bottom of said tank whereby the gas lows upward through the down stream ot' the absorber oil, a plurality of tubes located in the tank, chambers at the top and bottom of the tank and connected by the tubes but out of communication with the body of the tank, means connecting the space in the tank around the tubes with the lower chamber whereby the absorber oil charged with higher Baume gravity gasoline is permitted to enter the tubes whereby the heat caused by the absorber oil absorbing the higher Baume gravity gasoline is imparted to the tubes and to the absorber oil charged with higher Baume gravity gasoline passing through said tubes, a pump connected with the upper chamber of the tank for creating a vacuum' in said upper chamber whereby the higher Baume gravity gasoline is withdrawn from the tank, and means connectying the top of the tank with the heat exchanger whereby the exhausted gas is charged into heat exchanger for absorbing the heat of the higher Baume gravity gasoline .laden gas passing through the heat exchanger.

CHARLES HENRY BROWN. 

